Unidentified Country Buys Israeli Unmanned Aerial System

An unidentified South American country has agreed to pay Israel’s Elbit Systems $50 million for its Hermes unmanned aerial system.<br/>

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Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, 03/01/12 11:46

Elbit's Hermes 900 UAV

Israel news photo: Elbit

An unidentified South American country has agreed pay Israel’s Elbit Systems $50 million for its Hermes unmanned aerial system (UAS), the company announced Monday.

The country is apparently a first-time purchaser because Elbit’s General manger Elad Aharonson said, ”We are very proud that yet another customer has selected the Hermes 900, following orders by the Israeli Defense Forces and Chile."

The company statement said that the system was sold “to a governmental office of a country in the Americas.”

It will be operated in a variety of perimeter security missions for approximately one year. The UAS will also include systems such as the Universal Ground Control Stations and satellite communication systems.

The Hermes 900 is the backbone of the Israel Defense Forces' UAS operations. It can fly at an altitude of up to 30,000 feet and carry relatively large payloads. "Hermes 900 is establishing its position as a world-leading UAS for intelligence missions, as well as perimeter and security missions,” Aharonson said.

Last July, Elbit sold the Hermes 900 to the Chilean Air Force, and a year earlier the Israeli-based company won a $50 million contract to supply the unmannered aircraft to the IDF.